The French parterre* outside Marjorie Merriweather Post'sbedroom suite is a lovely place to visit on a Saturday
This week's Two Things Challenge was Saturday / Sunday. I don't know what possessed me to choose this as a challenge, because it wasn't the easiest. But I finally figured it out! Most Saturdays find me out and about trying to see something new or photograph something I haven't. On Saturday, I visited Marjorie Merriweather Post's Hillwood Museum & Gardens.
Mrs. Post, the heiress of the Post cereal fortune, had a home in Washington that doubled not just as a home, but a museum. It's a beautiful estate with an amazing collection of French and Russian art and porcelain, as well as lovely gardens. I'll be posting more about this later this week. The picture above is the French parterre outside Mrs. Post's bedroom on the second floor. This was the scene she awoke to every morning. Not bad, eh?
Timothy J. Russert, moderator of Sunday'sMeet the Press on NBC, is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
One of the staples of Sunday mornings in Washington are the political news round-up shows. All three national networks--ABC, CBS, and NBC--have a moderated show where panelists are either political pundits or politicians. One of the highest rated shows has been NBC's Meet the Press. As some of you may recall, in June Meet the Press' moderator and NBC's Washington bureau chief, Tim Russert, died of a heart attack. Mr. Russert was widely regarded in Washington. A native of Buffalo, New York, he wasn't shy about his humble beginnings. Many of us thought he would be buried in Buffalo, but to our surprise he is buried here in Washington.
This is a picture of Mr. Russert's grave in Rock Creek Park Cemetery--Washington's oldest cemetery. No headstone yet. I feature this as part of today's challenge because, as Mr. Russert always proclaimed at the close of his show, "If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press!" Here's to you, Tim. We miss you!
* My thanks to Jackie who brought it to my attention that the intricate fountain in the garden probably precluded it from being an English garden, which is how I originally labeled it. I've edited this post to reflect the correction.
Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/08
10 comments:
I was surprised it was an English garden - the shape of the pond seemed a bit intricate for an English formal garden. Though, you're absolutely right it's a great view to wake up to.
Jackie: Hm. I think I may have misheard the type of garden it is. That said, I went to Hillwood's website and found that, in fact, I misspoke. It is not an English garden, but a French parterre. My apologies! Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I'll edit my entry to reflect this correction.
English gardens tend to be more like the natural landscape with hills, bushes, and flowers sometimes in messy profusion. French gardens are ordered and symmetrical like this one, very neat, with lots of gravel, sometimes more gravel than greenery. That's my layman's take on the distinction.
Just wanted to also take this opportunity to let you know that I enjoy your blog. I'm a DC resident now living overseas temporarily. Though I love the adventure I'm having, it's great to see these bits of home (including your wonderful shots of Farragut North, my metro stop for MANY years.)
Ah.. your garden post reminded me of my trip to Chateau de Villandry with beautiful sculpted gardens.
Tim Russert will be missed, looks like his son Luke is moving swiftly in his father's steps.
I thought about this challenge all week and failed to meet the call. :(
Damn I miss Tim Russert. How we have needed him since he left us. Good challenge today J.
Anne: I'm glad you enjoy this blog. Paris must be lovely, too, but I'm glad I can provide a glimpse of home now and then! Hope you'll visit often. By the way--I enjoyed your entry about navigating Paris traffic as a pedestrian. Well written!
Andrea: It was an awful challenge, to be frank! I thought it would be witty and different. I'm not sure what it was, but difficult. I need to come up with challenges that invite more people in rather than scaring them off! :-)
VJ: Me, too, V. Me, too.
Well done with this one. I t was a challenge, and that is why it is called a challenge. Tim Russert is sorely missed. He was the only one who wasn't partisan, or at least he didn't let it show.
I could handle waking up to that every morning!
Rolling Rock on a grave? Is there a story there? Funny!
I've always wondered who Ms. Post was. Did you know there is a concert facility in Columbia, MD that bears her name?
I miss Russert, too - election night coverage just wasn't the same without him.
Rob: I suppose you're right about a challenge being, well, a challenge. Still, sometimes I come up with doozies. As for Russert, you're right. He was the least partisan of all the moderators and pundits in this town, which is part of why he was worth watching.
Maya: Me, too! As for Russert and the Rolling Rock on his grave, apparently it was his favorite beer and he was known as a down-to-earth guy who would buy a total stranger a beer. In fact, my former boss (who I'm working with again) told me about meeting Tim Russert in a bar in San Francisco once. They're both Buffalo boys and they ended up swapping stories and buying each other drinks. Drew says he was just the nicest mensch.
Bernie: Ms. Post was kind of a character, but she had a real eye for what would later be historically significant pieces. And yes, I was aware there's a performing arts venue named after her. I've yet to go to a concert there, though. Per Russert, I didn't start watching coverage until nearly 11:00 because I couldn't bear it without Tim. Keith Olbermann just isn't the same and Chuck Todd is about as interesting as warm, flat soda. Bleh.
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